Modular footwear platform

ABSTRACT

A footwear apparatus and method including a sole to which fasteners are attached. Straps are mounted to fasteners and extend across the user&#39;s foot when the footwear is worn. The invention permits enormous variety in constructing footwear for the user to change the straps to suit his or her interests. Preferred straps include woven rubber or silicon bands forming a strip that is attached using loops at the ends of the straps. The fasteners are preferably pins extending through apertures formed in the soles of the footwear, where the pins have enlarged heads that prevent the pins from pulling the apertures and hooks or loops in the ends of the pins. Clips can fasten the loops on the straps to the loops on the pins.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/903,014 filed Nov. 12, 2013. This prior application is herebyincorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

(Not Applicable)

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

(Not Applicable)

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX

(Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly tofootwear that has various functional and decorative structures attachedto the footwear.

Footwear comes in various shapes, colors and textures. Sandals alone aremade in a virtually unlimited number of styles and colors. So-called“flip-flop” sandals, shown in FIG. 1, have a known appearance and arecommonly made of a planar, polymer foam base 6 with one or more straps 8extending from the base. The straps are used to retain the flip-flop tothe foot, commonly by extending over the top of the foot, and with astructure between the large toe and next adjacent toe. Flip-flops areoften worn without socks, and the wearer places his or her foot onto thebase while extending the toes and parts of the foot beneath the straps.

Flip-flops are common casual wear for people in the age group 8-25years, and this is a group that desires a wide variety in the appearanceof footwear. In response to the demand for varieties in footwear,flip-flop makers have created and sold countless colors, patterns andtextures of flip-flops. Nevertheless, there is a need for more varietiesof colors, textures and styles in footwear.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention allows the user to design and assemble his or her ownfootwear by making and/or buying straps that may attach to a variety ofmounting points on a base or sole, such as a substantially planar sole.The sole may be as simple as a flip-flop base with three mounting pointsto attach straps, and the straps may be purchased or created by theuser. One method for creating the straps is to weave them out ofelastomeric bands by hand or using a loom such as the FUNLOOM brandloom. The user can buy or create an almost endless variety of bands toattach to the shoe base or sole using a variety of mounting points,materials and stitches.

The mounting points can be formed at known locations in some embodimentsthat are similar to the flip-flop, or they can be placed wherever thedesigner's creativity requires. The designer can extend fasteners, suchas pins that have an enlarged lower head and a loop at the upper end,through apertures in the sole, and then removably mount the straps tothe fasteners. This provides an enormous variety of footwear for theuser to enjoy and modify as often as he or she likes when the straps areremovably fastened to the fasteners.

With the present invention, a user can construct footwear that has theappearance and function desired, but can be modified after constructionwithout destroying the constructed footwear. Instead, the modificationtypically can be carried out by the user with only his or her hands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a pair of prior art sandals.

FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a sole that is contemplated for use inthe present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the sole of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating an alternative pin fastener.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating an alternative sole that iscontemplated for use in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating an alternative sole that iscontemplated for use in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating an alternative sole that iscontemplated for use in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view in perspective illustrating an alternative embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top view illustrating the alternative embodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front view in perspective illustrating the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is front view in perspective illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view in perspective illustrating the alternative embodimentof FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a front view in perspective illustrating the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 11.

In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which isillustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted tofor the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the inventionbe limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understoodthat each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operatein a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, theword connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are notlimited to direct connection, but include connection through otherelements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent bythose skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/903,014 filed Nov. 12, 2013 isherein incorporated in this application by reference.

In a first embodiment, the sole 20 is a planar, flexible polymer foam,such as the soles that conventional flip-flop sandals are made of. Thesole can be the same thickness throughout, it can be of varyingthickness (such as a wedge shape), or it can incorporate a heel and bemade of multiple materials used for producing traditional footwear. Onlythe planar, single thickness sole 20 is illustrated, but the person ofordinary skill will know from the description herein how to prepareother soles in accordance with the invention.

The sole 20 has a top major surface 21 and an opposing bottom majorsurface 23 (see FIG. 3), which typically rests upon the surface on whichthe wearer of the shoes is supported, such as a floor, earth, pavementor any other supportive surface. The user's foot, or a stocking coveringthe foot, rests upon the top major surface 21 during use.

A mounting point 22 is formed at the location where a gap between theuser's big toe and next adjacent toe will be positioned during use. Twoadditional mounting points 24 and 26 are located, one on either side ofwhere the foot will be positioned during use. The first mounting point24 can be on one side of the foot and as far back as where the anklewill be positioned during use, and another mounting point 26 can be onthe opposite side of the foot, as far back as where the ankle will bepositioned. The mounting points contemplated for all embodiments of theinvention include any suitable fastener to which a “strap” can beattached.

“Straps” are flexible structures that are contemplated to include,without limitation, flexible rubber, urethane, string, bands, wires,tied or bound rubber bands, woven rubber bands, woven string, wovenwires, or any other flexible, elongated structure. Straps can be wovenstrips of any material that is suitable for extending over the humanfoot, or any suitable material that is comfortable to the human user.The preferred straps have loops at their ends, defined as an openingformed in the strap into which an object, such as a hook or otherstructure, can be inserted. The ends, or areas near the ends, of eachstrap can be a section of a rubber band or any other structure that isreadily connected to another object including, without limitation, aloop of material, a flexible band or strip, a hook, a magnet, or a tackymaterial.

The preferred mounting points include hooks, loops, magnets, clasps, orother fasteners to which a strap can readily mount. Any suitablefastener can be used at the ends of each strap, so long as the fastenerpermits attachment of the strap to the respective mounting points, alongwith detachment without destruction or damage to the strap. One type ofattachment or fastening is a loop through which an intermediate portionof a strap passes, such as when a strap is mounted at or near its endsto fasteners, but passes through a loop in another fastener. Such aconfiguration is considered consistent with the invention, because thefasteners at the ends of the strap removably mount the strap to the twofasteners, and the loop in the center of the strap also removably mountsthe strap to the loop portion of the fastener, even though a strappassing through a loop may not be considered a fastener in commonvernacular. A physical connection that restricts the movement of a strapis considered a “fastener” for the purposes of the invention.

One example of a mounting point contemplated is shown in FIG. 3. Thesole 20 is shown from the side and has a plurality of apertures (shownin dashed lines) extending substantially perpendicularly to the majorsurfaces 21 and 23 through the sole 20. A pin 32 extends through theaperture 30, as shown in a magnified view, with a larger head 32 h atthe bottom to resist an upward component of force pulling the head 32 hthrough the aperture. A tip is formed at the top end of the pin 32 witha hook 34 formed therein, thereby forming a fastener. The hook 34 canreceive a rubber band, loop or another structure of a strap. The hook 34has a gate 34′ that is spring-loaded to prevent withdrawal of the strapfrom the hook, such as during removal of the sandal from the user'sfoot. However, when the strap is deliberately being removed by the userthis is a simple process accomplished without any tools.

Looking now to FIG. 4, the alternative pin 132 has an opening 134through which a band 136 can extend or pass through, or to which a claspcan attach. The band 136 can be a rubber band or any similar strapstructure, such as an elongated collection of tied or otherwise joinedrubber bands, for example the woven collection of rubber bands shown inU.S. Pat. No. 8,485,565, which is incorporated herein by reference.Furthermore, the band 136 is contemplated to include any clip or otherstructure used to extend through the opening 134 and through the loop inthe end of the strap. The band 136 can be a C-shaped clip that isconventionally used to connect the ends of a strap of woven rubber bandstogether to form bracelets, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.8,485,565.

Although the above pins 32 and 132 have long thin shafts extending fromenlarged heads, which can be circular or shaped otherwise, various pinsare contemplated. The pins 32 and 132 can be rigid (metal or hardplastic), semi-rigid (flexible plastic) or highly flexible (string,rubber bands and fabric). Alternative pins include flexible fabricstrips with looped ends used as fasteners on one side of the sole, witha rod across the aperture on the bottom of the sole and around whichopposite ends of the fabric strip are extended to prevent the fabricfrom pulling through. String is also contemplated, as is any other rigidor flexible material that is suitably strong and can be attached to thesole to form a fastener to which the straps can be removably mounted.

As defined herein, the term “removably mounted” (or similar terms, suchas “removably attached”) is defined as an attachment that can be madeusing human hands without any parts that are destroyed or damaged, andthat can be detached using human hands without destroying or damagingany parts. Thus, sewing is not considered “removably mounted”, nor areriveting, gluing, stapling or other forms of attachment. “Removablyattached” and similar terms include, without limitation, the use ofhooks extended through loops, attracting magnets, hooks-and-loops (e.g.,VELCRO brand fastener), knots tied by hand, clasps, snaps, and otherequivalent or substitute fasteners.

In one embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, the sole 200 hasopenings for establishing more than three mounting points as in theembodiment shown in FIG. 2. The FIG. 5 embodiment allows for a varietyof designs because the straps can be attached at many different placesto form different angles across or around the foot, or merely fordecoration, upon placement of a mounting point at those locations.

The number of mounting arrangements of the FIG. 5 embodiment isvirtually unlimited, and multiple such openings 230 through the sole areshown in FIG. 5 at the perimeter of the sole. Each opening 230 can forma mounting point with a pin as shown and described herein, or anyequivalent or suitable fastener. Thus, the three basic mounting pointsfor a flip flop can be expanded to create mounting points all around theperimeter of the sole. The user can thereby attach additional strapsacross and behind the foot to create a sandal with various straps. Inanother embodiment, not shown, it is contemplated to insert pins inevery opening 230 in the sole 200, and extend straps over the majorsurface against which the foot rests in order to provide athleticfootwear that can be modified to a great extent to ensure the user'sfoot is sufficiently supported.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the straps 334 and 336 are attachedfrom pins or other fasteners at one or more of the mounting points tothe toe position mounting point 330 in a configuration similar to astandard flip-flop. A third strap 332 extends across to form an anklesupport, and this third strap 332 can be made of various materials.Virtually any strap position possible is contemplated with the presentinvention, due to the location of the apertures around the perimeter,and the ability to attach straps of any length from one mounting pointto another.

In an embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the sole 432 has a plurality ofapertures, to which a single strap 434 is mounted across the sole 432 toextend across the top of the user's foot near the toes. In an embodimentshown in FIG. 8, the sole 532 has three fasteners 536, 537 and 538, towhich a single strap 534 removably attaches. The strap 534 attaches atits opposing ends to the fasteners 537 and 538, but removably attachesto the fastener 536 by passing through an opening in the fastener 536.This opening can be loose or tight, as determined by the user, to allowthe strap 534 to slide therein or be held tightly thereby. In any case,such a physical relationship is considered “removably mounted” for thepurposes of the invention. Thus, a single strap can extend between threefasteners, and provide, in effect, the structure of two straps. Thisembodiment is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. A similar, but slightly differentembodiment is shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 in which the sole 632 has aplurality of straps 634 a, 634 b and 634 c all passing through thefastener 636 similarly to the strap 534 through the fastener 536 inparallel fashion. The straps 634 a, 634 b and 634 c fasten, at theiropposing ends, to the fasteners 637 and 638. Thus, straps can beattached in parallel for decorative and/or functional purposes. Itshould also be noted that charms, embellishments, and/or any otherdecorative structures can be connected to the straps by inserting thestraps through the structures, weaving the straps into or around thestructures, or otherwise connecting the structures to the straps thatare used in the present invention.

It is notable that, in any embodiment described herein, the straps canbe purchased, or they can be made of a structure constructed by the enduser of the shoe, and installed to the shoe sole/base by the end user ofthe shoe. Thus, the straps can be rubber bands, strings, braided stringsor bands, otherwise tied or looped bands, or any suitable strapstructure or material. In one contemplated example, the straps are madeof a plurality of small rubber bands, silicon bands or other elastomericmaterial bands, which small bands are woven into a sufficiently-sizedstrap by the end user of the shoe. The end user removably attaches endsof these straps to fasteners at the mounting points chosen by the user,and thereby uses the woven band straps as decorative and/or supportiveportions of the footwear. Whenever desired, the user can remove one ormore ends of the straps and mounts the strap to the footwear in adifferent manner. This allows the end user to thereby removably mountthe straps in a way that is desired at one time, and then modify thelocation and/or appearance of the straps to produce footwear that hasstraps mounted a different way at a later time.

It is contemplated to provide a sole with an upper, such as in the formof a clog or shoe, where the sole has apertures through which one ormore pins are extended, and straps are made or purchased. The straps canbe attached to the pins or other fasteners at mounting points and usedin a functional manner, or in a decorative manner, or in a manner thatis both decorative and functional. For example, one or more straps couldbe used to form a support behind the heel on a pair of clog-like shoes.The pin can extend through an aperture in the sole or in the upper, andthe strap can extend behind the heel in an operable orientation.Furthermore, it is contemplated to have pins extend through the upper orsole, and extend straps alongside the upper to provide a decorativefeature.

The straps can attach to the sole in a variety of ways including hooksbuilt into the sole or mounting pins that protrude up from the bottom ofthe sole with an attachment point for the straps, as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. There are countless ways straps can be attached to the sole andextended from one mounting point to another mounting point. Thepreferred embodiment allows the user to extend a structure through anaperture in the sole and then attach, detach, and rearrange the mountingpoints and straps as they wish at any time. Of course, an aperture isnot required, but a fastener can be attached to the sole, or a loop orother structure can be formed on the sole through which a fastener canextend. This allows the user to create a large variety of shoe designsusing the basic components of the sole, mounting points, pins or otherfasteners, with the straps.

The structures may be sold as a kit in which a sole with openings,mounting points, a loom, and bands to make straps are included. It mayalso and alternatively be sold in a kit without a loom for those whoalready own a loom or wish to purchase already assembled straps orchoose to assemble straps by hand. The combination may also be sold in akit with the sole only, or the sole with mounting point pins for thosewho already have all of the other components.

This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intendedprincipally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in whichthe present invention may be constructed or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementingthe invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is tobe understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions andfeatures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the inventionand that various modifications may be adopted without departing from theinvention or scope of the following claims.

1. An improved footwear apparatus including a sole having a first majorsurface for contacting a supporting surface in an operable orientationand a second, substantially oppositely-directed major surface upon whicha human foot rests in an operable orientation, the improvementcomprising: (a) a first fastener attached to the sole near a firstlocation; (b) a second fastener attached to the sole near a secondlocation spaced from the first fastener; (c) a third fastener attachedto the sole near a third location spaced from the first fastener andspaced from the second fastener; (d) a first strap removably attached tothe first fastener and extending to the second fastener, to which thefirst strap removably attaches; and (e) a second strap removablyattached to the first fastener and extending to the third fastener, towhich the second strap removably attaches.
 2. The improved footwearapparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the fastenersfurther comprises a pin, each of the pins has a shaft extending througha respective one of at least three apertures formed in the sole near therespective fastener's location, each pin has an enlarged head at thefirst major surface of the sole and a hook near an opposite pin end. 3.The improved footwear apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein saidat least three apertures further comprises at least four aperturesthrough which the pins are configured to extend.
 4. The improvedfootwear apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of thefasteners further comprises a pin, each of the pins having a shaftextending through a respective one of at least three apertures formed inthe sole near the respective fastener's location, each pin having anenlarged head at the first major surface of the sole and means forremovably fastening to a strap near an opposite pin end.
 5. The improvedfootwear apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said at leastthree apertures further comprises at least four apertures through whichthe pins are configured to extend.
 6. An improved footwear apparatusincluding a sole having a first major surface for contacting asupporting surface in an operable orientation and a second,substantially oppositely-directed major surface upon which a human footrests in an operable orientation, the improvement comprising: (a) afirst fastener attached to the sole near a first location; (b) a secondfastener attached to the sole near a second location spaced from thefirst fastener; (c) a third fastener attached to the sole near a thirdlocation spaced from the first fastener and spaced from the secondfastener; and (d) a first strap removably attached to the first fastenerand extending to the second fastener, to which the first strap removablyattaches, the first strap extending to the third fastener, to which thefirst strap removably attaches.
 7. An improved footwear apparatusincluding a sole having a first major surface for contacting asupporting surface in an operable orientation and a second,substantially oppositely-directed major surface upon which a human footrests in an operable orientation, the improvement comprising: (a) afirst pin having a shaft extending through a first aperture formed inthe sole, the first pin having an enlarged head at the first majorsurface of the sole and a fastener near an opposite pin end, wherein thefirst pin is disposed at a first location; (b) a second pin having ashaft extending through a second aperture formed in the sole, the secondpin having an enlarged head at the first major surface of the sole and afastener near an opposite pin end, wherein the second pin is disposed ata second location that is spaced from the first pin; (c) a third pinhaving a shaft extending through a third aperture formed in the sole,the third pin having an enlarged head at the first major surface of thesole and a fastener near an opposite pin end, wherein the third pin isdisposed at a third location that is spaced from the first pin and thesecond pin; (d) a first strap removably attached to the first fastenerand extending to the second fastener, to which the first strap removablyattaches; (e) a second strap removably attached to the first fastenerand extending to the third fastener, to which the second strap removablyattaches; and (f) a fourth aperture formed in the sole that is spacedfrom the first, second and third apertures and through which at leastone of the pins is configured to extend.
 8. The improved footwearapparatus in accordance with claim 7, further comprising a plurality ofapertures formed in the sole that are spaced from every other apertureand through which at least one of the pins is configured to extend.
 9. Amethod of constructing footwear having a sole with a first major surfacefor contacting a supporting surface in an operable orientation and asecond, substantially oppositely-directed major surface upon which ahuman foot rests in an operable orientation, the method comprising: (a)forming a first flexible woven strap; (b) forming a second flexiblewoven strap; (c) removably attaching the first strap to a first fastenerthat is attached to the sole near a first location; (d) extending thefirst strap to a second fastener that is attached to the sole near asecond location spaced from the first fastener; (e) removably attachingthe first strap to the second fastener; (f) removably attaching thesecond strap to the first fastener; (g) extending the second strap to athird fastener that is attached to the sole near a third location spacedfrom the first fastener and spaced from the second fastener; and (h)removably attaching the second strap to the third fastener.
 10. Themethod in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: (a) removing thefirst strap from the first fastener; (b) extending the first strap to athird fastener that is attached to the sole near a third location spacedfrom the first fastener and spaced from the second fastener; and (c)removably attaching the first strap to the third fastener.
 11. Themethod in accordance with claim 9, further comprising: (a) forming athird flexible woven strap; (b) removing the first strap from the firstfastener and the second fastener; and (c) removably attaching the thirdstrap to the first fastener and the second fastener.
 12. A method ofconstructing footwear having a sole with a first major surface forcontacting a supporting surface in an operable orientation and a second,substantially oppositely-directed major surface upon which a human footrests in an operable orientation, the method comprising: (a) forming afirst flexible woven strap; (b) removably attaching the first strap to afirst fastener that is attached to the sole near a first location; (d)extending the first strap to a second fastener that is attached to thesole near a second location spaced from the first fastener; and (e)removably attaching the first strap to the second fastener.
 13. Themethod in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: (a) removing thefirst strap from the first fastener; (b) extending the first strap to athird fastener that is attached to the sole near a third location spacedfrom the first fastener and spaced from the second fastener; and (c)removably attaching the first strap to the third fastener.
 14. Themethod in accordance with claim 12, further comprising: (a) forming asecond flexible woven strap; (b) removing the first strap from the firstfastener and the second fastener; and (c) removably attaching the secondstrap to the first fastener and the second fastener.
 15. The method inaccordance with claim 12, wherein the step of forming a first flexiblewoven strap further comprises weaving a decorative object into thestrap.
 16. An improved footwear apparatus including a sole having afirst major surface for contacting a supporting surface in an operableorientation and a second, substantially oppositely-directed majorsurface upon which a human foot rests in an operable orientation, aflexible upper extending from at least one side of the sole's secondside to an opposite side of the sole's second side, the improvementcomprising: (a) a first fastener attached to one of the sole and theupper near a first location; (b) a second fastener attached to one ofthe sole and the upper near a second location spaced from the firstfastener; (c) a first strap removably attached to the first fastener andextending to the second fastener, to which the first strap removablyattaches.
 17. The improved footwear apparatus in accordance with claim16, wherein said at least three apertures further comprises at leastfour apertures through which the pins are configured to extend.
 18. Theimproved footwear apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein each ofthe fasteners further comprises a pin, each of the pins has a shaftextending through a respective one of at least two apertures formed inthe sole near the respective fastener's location, each pin has anenlarged head at the first major surface of the sole and a hook near anopposite pin end.
 19. The improved footwear apparatus in accordance withclaim 18, wherein each of the fasteners further comprises a pin, each ofthe pins has a shaft extending through a respective one of at leastthree apertures formed in the sole near the respective fastener'slocation, each pin having an enlarged head at the first major surface ofthe sole and means for removably fastening to a strap near an oppositepin end.
 20. The improved footwear apparatus in accordance with claim19, wherein said at least three apertures further comprises at leastfour apertures through which the pins are configured to extend.
 21. Animproved footwear apparatus including a sole having a first majorsurface for contacting a supporting surface in an operable orientationand a second, substantially oppositely-directed major surface upon whicha human foot rests in an operable orientation, the improvementcomprising: (a) a first fastener attached to the sole near a firstlocation; (b) a second fastener attached to the sole near a secondlocation spaced from the first fastener; (c) a third fastener attachedto the sole near a third location spaced from the first fastener andspaced from the second fastener; (d) a fourth fastener attached to thesole near a fourth location spaced from the first fastener, spaced fromthe second fastener, and spaced from the third fastener; (e) a firststrap removably attached to the first fastener and extending to thesecond fastener, to which the first strap removably attaches; and (f) asecond strap removably attached to the third fastener and extending tothe fourth fastener, to which the second strap removably attaches.